The Philip Area Scottie wrestling team earned third place at the 2010 South Dakota State "B" Dual Tournament at Wagner on Saturday, January 30.

The 12 teams competing were divided into three brackets. Though Philip won its bracket, it came in third behind first place Hot Springs and second place Wagner. The Scotties first defeated Tri-Valley with a team score of 45-29. They then racked up a 43-30 win over Howard, which had earlier defeated Parkston.

Shots like this ... was how Casey Cvach was able to rack up 16 points during the Scottie game against Lemmon last Friday night. Cvach, along with teammate Gunner Hook, who also had 16 points, lead the Scotties in scoring. Photo by Nancy Haigh

The Philip boys seemingly did not begin their home game against the Lemmon Cowboys until the second quarter. After that, though, they claimed the game as their own. They won with a final score of 73-60.

Philip 12 22 25 14 = 73

Lemmon 25 12 10 13 = 60

The boys started out the Philip vs. Lemmon boys' and girls' double header on Friday, January 29. In the boys' first quarter, the Lemmon Cowboys more than doubled the Philip Scotties' score.

The Scotties began a come-back drive that came close to succeeding even before half-time.

Playing defense ... Kady Pinney goes for the steal while Josie Guptill, middle, and Carissa Doolittle set up blocking against this Lemmon Cowgirl who was going in for a lay-up. Maneuverers like this helped put the Scotties in the lead and stage a home court win. A score of 66-60 was the final outcome off the January 31 game.

Though the first quarter seemed dismal for their home audience, the Lady Scotties slowly dug themselves out of a scoreboard hole to eventually pull off a win against the Lemmon Cowgirls. The final score was an almost unbelievable 66-60.

The Friday, January 29, basketball game in Philip began with Lemmon more than doubling the Philip score in the first quarter.

The Scotties diminished that lead, but still ended the first half six points behind. In the third quarter the Cowgirls felt the defensive power of the Scotties, who denied the Cowgirls most of the rebounds.

The away game on Tuesday, January 26, was a loss for the Philip Scottie boys' basketball team and a win for the Bennett County Warriors. The final score was 59-64.

Philip played hard, ending the first quarter only two field goals behind their opponents. By half-time, the Scotties had taken the lead by a single basket. Before the fourth quarter, that lead was increased by another basket.

The Philip City Council's regular meeting on Monday, February 1, began with an update on any emergency snow removal policy that might be adopted by the council.

The council and Matt Reckling, public works director, agreed that snow removal is easier and more efficient, thus cheaper, if the snow can be windrowed to the center of the streets from both curbs, then picked up and trucked away later. Defining when vehicles must be parked other places than by the curbs is the problem. A snow alert would be hard to define. How much snow, predicted or actual, constitutes a snow alert?

Born and raised in Presho, SD, Jerry Rhodes has proudly called Philip his home for the past 36 years.

Growing up, Rhodes was fortunate to have a wonderful family with a situation for many job opportunities in the family businesses. He worked in the grocery store, learned to be a butcher and worked on the family farm/ranch most summers. At nine years of age, Rhodes experienced his first job helping out on the farm by driving the tractor and rake.

Following a 30 minute executive session, Haakon County Director of Equalization Rita Merrill's resignation was accepted by the Haakon County Board of Commissioners at their February 2 meeting.

Merrill had noted previously that she was considering retiring from her position. She plans to step down July 1, 2010. The board approved for her to work part-time while she trains a new director of equalization. Merrill noted that her appraisal license is effective until 2013, which would allow her to help the new person with appraisals.

Kay Runyan Berkemeier, age 62, Quinn, SD, died Saturday, January 2, 2010, at her home in Quinn.

Survivors include her sister, Diana Sue "Suzi" Pesicka and her husband, Richard, of Colorado Springs, CO; two nephews, Conor and Cade Pesicka of Colorado Springs; and an aunt, Pat Hassettt of Cupertino, CA.